K'Ja Talley is Warren Central's 'glue girl,' but she might not be a secret for long

The Warriors were able to come away with the victory.
Zach Horrall, Special for IndyStar

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Warren Central's K'Ja Talley (21) at the free point line during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018.(Photo: Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar)Buy Photo

INDIANAPOLIS – When people think of Warren Central’s girls basketball team, the names Shaila Beeler and Cydni Dodd come to mind right away. And for good reason. Beeler, an IU commit, carried the team throughout last season’s state championship run. Dodd, who will attend Michigan State, demands attention because of her 6-5 frame.

But the Warriors have another player who teams might want to keep an eye on. Know who leads the team in scoring? It’s not Beeler, and it’s not Dodd. Know who leads the team in rebounding? Not Beeler. Not Dodd.

Meet junior K’Ja Talley, whose 12.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game lead the group.

“K’Ja is our glue girl,” Warriors coach Stacey Mitchell said. “She helps hold everything together. She plays really well and it helps us out. She’s a hustler. She hits layups, she gets rebounds, she plays good defense. She’s got a lot of energy.”

She led the team in scoring with 12 points (along with Beeler) and had a game-high eight rebounds in the team’s 49-41 win against Lawrence North on Friday. She also hit 6-of-6 free throws, including four in the closing minute to ice the game.

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Warren Central's Shaila Beeler (10) looks for a way around Lawrence North's Maddie Howe (4) during the first half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central's Cydni Dodd (50) looks for an open teammate during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Lawrence North Coach Chris Giffin giving his team instructions during a time out during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central's K'Ja Talley (21) finds an opening to make a shot during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central Coach Stacy Mitchell shouts out directions to his team during the first half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Lawrence North's Kristian Young (25) tries to shoot over the defense during the first half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central's K'Ja Talley (21) at the free point line during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Lawrence North's Lauren Gunn (23) with the short jump shot during the first half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central's Shaila Beeler (10) drives the basket for a lay up during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central's K'Ja Talley (21) goes up with a shot during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central Coach Stacy Mitchell lays out game plans at the start of the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central's Alaysia Davis (4) goes for a lay up during the first half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Lawrence North's Kristian Young (25) goes for three points during the first half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central's Shaila Beeler (10) takes the ball to the basket during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Lawrence North's Jayla Smith (24) attempts a three point shot during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

The Warren Central cheerleaders gets the crowd school spirit up during the first half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central's K'Ja Talley (21) on the lay up during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Warren Central's K'Ja Talley (21) makes a drive for the basket during the second half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

The team captains meet with the official prior to the start of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

The Lawrence North cheerleaders pose for a picture during the first half of Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

Lawrence North Coach Chris Giffin gives plans to his team for the second half of play during the Lawrence North vs. Warren Central High School varsity girls basketball held at Warren Central High School, December 14, 2018. Gary Brockman, Gary Brockman/for IndyStar

She doesn’t regularly have jaw-dropping performances, though she scored 24 against Tindley in late November. But she’s scored in double-figures in all games but two. In one of those, she had a season-high nine rebounds.

Beeler is still getting back into shape after missing a few weeks with an ankle injury. Mitchell says she’s at about 70 percent, while Beeler says she’s playing at about 90 percent. What hasn’t changed is her willingness to drive. She fell to the floor several times Friday night on layup attempts, no worse for wear.

“I’m going to take the risk,” she said. “I get a little scared cutting as well, but I take my risks.”

Friday night wasn’t the Warriors most solid game fundamentally — they committed 13 turnovers and were 11-of-18 at the line — but their defense held the Wildcats in check. Lawrence North lived and died from behind the arc. After falling behind by 10 midway through the third quarter, a trio of 3s made it a one-possession game. But they finished just 6-of-20 from behind the arc and 3-of-5 at the line. Jayla Smith led the team with 10 points.

However, defense continues to be a strength for the Wildcats. They came into the game allowing just 43 points per game. Warren, who came in averaging 65, was held to their second-lowest scoring total of the season.

“Lawrence North is a very tough team," Mitchell said. "Any time we have two MIC opponents play each other, we’re going to make each other look bad. The MIC is tough and competitive. Every game we play is going to be tough.”

As for the Warriors, they’re still finding themselves after last year’s title. While most of the roster is the same, each year is different. And especially with Beeler still on the mend, they aren’t yet at full strength. But luckily for them, they have a secret weapon in a 5-9 guard — for now.

“Some teams mainly focus on (Beeler and Dodd), but I’m there too,” Talley said. “If people don’t know about me, I’m going to do what I have to do and get my points.”

If she keeps this up, people are going to know about her sooner than later.